The Best Casein Protein Powders For 2017: All You Need To Know

If you want to grow your muscles while you rest, then drinking a glass of casein protein powder might be helpful for you. However, with the many brands available in the market, you can’t avoid getting confused sometimes. To help you with this dilemma, we’re here to search for the best casein protein that fits your budget and needs.

Not only does casein protein helps build more muscle mass, but it can also help increase energy levels and recover easier. We have scoured the market for the most popular casein protein powders, and we selected five brands which we think are the best. If you’re curious to know, check them out below.

What Is Casein Protein?

Casein protein is sourced from cow’s milk, similar to whey. It constitutes 80% of the milk’s total milk composition, with the remaining 20% comprising of whey. The amazing ability of casein to gel makes it a distinct and diverse protein supplement.

Watch a basic recipe of casein protein shake in this video here.

During digestion, casein thickens as it mixes with the stomach acid. This slows down the digestion rate and allows for a steady discharge of amino acids into the small intestine. This steady and slow stream of amino acids develop an extended, yet low rate of muscle protein synthesis.

What Are Some Benefits Of Taking Casein Protein?

Casein protein is considered an anti-catabolic supplement which means that it can help reduce the breakdown process of your muscle tissues. This leaves your hard-earned muscle mass intact. Since this form of protein is slow-digesting, it can last longer in your bloodstream to repair and grow your muscles.

You can also benefit from casein protein while you sleep. According to 2012 study, taking casein protein before you sleep can stimulate muscle protein synthesis and boost muscle recovery. Many people also take protein powders to curb their appetite to a specific extent, which can aid with weight loss.

Tips In Taking The Casein Protein Powder Supplement

For a better effect, consider mixing casein with a quick-digesting protein like whey. With this combination, you might get a consistent feed of amino acids and reap the benefits of high leucine.

Being a slow-digesting supplement, take casein when you’re without food for a long duration of time. Try drinking right before you sleep to gain weight and build muscles.

If you’re consuming casein alone, consider taking a large serving of casein to maximize anabolism. For a 200-pound male, we suggest 40-50 grams of casein protein.

What To Look For

1. Ingredients

If you want a more effective type of casein, look for micellar. This form of casein has the ability to create a clot in the stomach, which produces a slow release of amino acids into the small intestine. For a real premium quality supplement, micellar casein should be pure (100%) and found first on the list of ingredients.

As much as possible, look for natural ingredients without chemical bleaching, growth hormones, and other additives. Avoid fillers like added amino acids and maltodextrin, a form of sugar, because they may not provide the same benefits as a whole casein protein.

2. Cold Processed Formula

When casein protein is cold processed or low-temperature-processed, it keeps most of its vulnerable immune elements and nutrients. This leaves the protein powder loaded with the perfect combination of easily absorbed amino acids, potent antioxidants, and metabolism-increasing peptides.

A cold processed casein protein also means no contamination from chemical detergents, heavy metals, or artificial additives. Some brand, like the Promix Micellar Casein Protein Powder, adds a dash of sunflower lecithin for easier mixing.

3. Price

Just with any other product, you want something that’s not heavy on the pocket. The best casein protein powder shouldn’t only be premium quality, but it should also be wallet-friendly. To get the best value for your money, look for a brand that offers the best quality at the lowest price.

Aside from the price, you may also want to look at the net weight of the product. Ideally, the price should be reasonable for its size. If you can find a brand that offers a large net weight at a lower price, the better.

4. Better Nutrition

A good casein protein powder should have the best nutrition as possible. When you’re confused between two brands, look at the nutrition facts and compare. You want a protein powder that packs a higher prote﻿﻿in weight with less fat, sugar, and carbohydrates.

The ProMix Micellar Casein Protein Powder contains no fat, carbohydrates, and sugar. This makes it a healthier choice as compared to other similar products in the market. In every two-scoop serving, you’ll get 25 grams of pure casein protein, 105 calories, and 70 milligrams of potassium.

The Promix formula also offers several minerals, like phosphorus, calcium, and potassium. The milk used are pasture based, making it safe from hormones and antibiotics. To keep many of its nutrients, the milk is cold processed.

Pros

Easy to mix

Cold processed to retain nutrients

Contains better nutrition

Free from GMO, hormones, antibiotics, colors, flavors, and other additives

Made of all natural ingredients

Contains a full spectrum of protein

Cons

The Naked Casein has only one ingredient and that is micellar casein. The milk protein is sourced from US farms to only to ensure no soy, gluten, and GMO. It’s cold processed to prevent the contamination of heavy metals, artificial additives, and chemical detergents.

In every 2-scoops of serving, you’ll get 26 grams protein, 110 calories, and 2 grams sugar. You also get several other minerals, like potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Aside from the unflavored variant, you can pick two other flavors, such as chocolate and vanilla.

Pros

Made of only casein protein

No chemical additives, artificial flavors, gluten, and GMO

Cold processed to be free from heavy metals

Offers good nutrition

All natural and effective

Cons

The Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Casein is a slow-digesting protein powder that promises to build and recover muscles. In every scoop of Optimum Nutrition, you’ll get 24 grams of protein, almost 5 grams of naturally occurring BCCAs, and close to 5 grams of naturally occurring glutamic acid.

In every 4-pound container, you can use about 55 servings. The creamy vanilla flavor makes it even more delicious to boot. You can add some fruits, peanut butter, and flaxseed oil to make a more tasty shake.

Pros

Doesn’t leave a terrible aftertaste

Price is pretty reasonable

Made of 100% micellar casein

Has great nutrition in each scoop

Tastes great with the milk

Cons

The D﻿﻿ynamite﻿﻿ Elite is a chocolate-flavored protein powder made of 100% micellar casein. In every one-scoop serving, you’ll get 25 grams of casein protein, 5 grams of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and 2.3 grams of L-leucine. It’s safe to use for athletes because it’s banned substance tested.

Aside from chocolate flavors, Dynamite Elite offers other flavors, such as the cinnamon bun, smooth vanilla, and cookies & cream. If you’re allergic to gluten, then this brand might be suitable for you because it’s gluten-free. In every 4-pound bottle, it offers 50 servings.

Pros

Gluten free and banned substance free

Made of 100% micellar protein

Offers high nutrition for each serving

Price is reasonable for its size

Contains no sugar

Cons

The S﻿﻿ix Star Casein﻿﻿ Protein Drink is a casein protein blend of micellar casein and milk protein isolate. Every 2-scoop serving of this casein protein offers 40 grams of protein. It’s powered by 100% casein and another potent compound shown to help build more muscle mass.

This protein powder is best consumed before sleeping and between meals. As promised by most casein protein powders, the slow-digesting casein of Six Star helps nourish your muscles. Why? It provides a steady flow of amino acids. For a delicious smoothie, try mixing with ice, fruit, peanut butter, or juice.

Pros

Great price for its quality

Powered with 100% casein

Good nutrition

Delicious when mixed in smoothies

Cons

Contains artificial flavors

Doesn’t blend well with liquids

Can be too sweet

Verdict

It also meets most of the features that we were looking for, such as a pure micellar protein ingredient, better nutrition, and cold processed formula. Naked Casein is a great counterpart but it is more expensive than ProMix.

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